SGN H.B. 485 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CORRECTIONS
H.B. 485
By: McClendon
2-21-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND 

According to data provided by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards,
there are 4,856 out-ofstate inmates currently housed in correctional
facilities in Texas.  States such as Oklahoma and Hawaii contract with
these facilities to house their inmates.  Presently, there is not a
statute which mandates that all out-of-state inmates housed by contract in
facilities be returned to the sending state before their release from
imprisonment.  This bill would ensure that out-of-state inmates are
returned to the sending state prior to their release from facilities in
Texas. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Government Code to require that
an out-of-state inmate housed by contract in a correctional facility in
Texas be returned to the sending state before the inmate's release from
imprisonment.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 495, Government Code, by adding
Section 495.024  which requires a county, municipality or a private vendor
operating a correctional facility under contract with a county or
municipality, to require in contracts with other states to house their
inmates, that each inmate to be released from custody must be released in
the sending state. 

SECTION 2. Transition clause.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.